The Race a fable for Narrator, Violin, Violoncello and Piano (or Piccolo, Bass Clarinet and Piano)

Transcription

1 Gwyneth Walker The Race a ale or Narrator, Violin, Violoncello and Piano (or Piccolo, Bass Clarinet and Piano) ased on the story The Hare and the Tortoise

2 2 The Race duration: 12 minutes ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The Race is a contemorary adatation o the amiliar story, "The Hare and the Tortoise" In this new version, the central characters (Rait and Tortoise) remain the same But, additional characters (the neighors, the Owl) are added Sights and sounds rom the neighorhood are incororated [A aseall game The irds singing Neighors waving hello ] And, the race itsel takes lace with the characters donning running shoes and cas A reeree starts the race, with the sound o a Starter's Pistol There is a moral to this well-known story: slow down and areciate your surroundings (!) And, the entire adventure ends in a grand celeration arty or all! This work may e erormed in standard concert clothing (although running shoes or cas may e added) Or, the Narrator and layers may exeriment with costuming The Cellist (Tortoise) may wear a ackack resemling a shell The Violinist (Rait) may try wearing rait ears (!) or aws And, the Narrator may select some attire suggesting a Reeree Puets and scenery may even e added The Race was created esecially or school and community concerts It is hoed that audiences o all ages will ind leasure in this simle tale, retold as a contemorary road race Sorts ans (which include the comoser) might e articularly amused! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Widely erormed throughout the country, the music o American comoser Gwyneth Walker is eloved y erormers and audiences alike or its energy, eauty, reverence, drama, and humor Dr Gwyneth Walker ( 197) is a graduate o Brown niversity and the Hartt School o Music She holds BA, MM and DMA degrees in Music Comosition A ormer aculty memer o the Oerlin College Conservatory, she resigned rom academic emloyment in 1982 in order to ursue a career as a ull-time comoser For nearly 30 years, she lived on a dairy arm in Braintree, Vermont She now divides her time etween her childhood hometown o New Canaan, Connecticut and the musical communities o Sarasota, Florida and Randolh, Vermont Gwyneth Walker has een a roud resident o Vermont or many years She is the reciient o the Year 2000 "Lietime Achievement Award" rom the Vermont Arts Council as well as the 2008 Athenaeum Award or Achievement in the Arts and Humanities rom the St ohnsury (VT) Athenaeum In 2012, she was elected as a Fellow o the Vermont Academy o Arts and Sciences Walker's catalog includes over 300 commissioned works or orchestra, chamer ensemles, chorus, and solo voice A secial interest has een dramatic works that comine music with readings, acting, and movement The music o Gwyneth Walker is ulished y E C Schirmer (choral and vocal music) and Lauren Keiser Music (orchestral and instrumental music) Further inormation concerning Gwyneth Walker and her works is availale at wwwgwynethwalkercom ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

3 Score in C The Race A Fale or Narrator, Violin, Violoncello and Piano (or Piccolo, Bass Clarinet and Piano)* 3 Gwyneth Walker Violin (Piccolo)** (Rait) Violoncello (B Bass Clarinet) (Tortoise) Piano (Onlookers) Vln (Picc) Vlc (B Cl) (Narrative recedes the musical commentary) Narrator: This is a story aout a race A road race etween two animals Fanare Quickly q = 1, with energy Quickly q = 1, with energy rit w heavily n Pno rit w w * Alternate arts or Piccolo and B Clarinet are availale **The Piccolo sounds an octave higher than written Coyright 2017 y Gwyneth Walker 252 Park Street, New Canaan, CT 0680 wwwgwynethwalkercom All rights reserved

4 N: Once uon a time, there was a seedy animal N: He was a srinter Vln (Picc) A 7 Vln (Picc) A1 Quickly q = 160 ( hoing sounds ) 8 Vln (Picc) N: He ran so quickly that the wind whistled as he went y! 9 B (to ortray the wind whistling as the Rait runs y) gliss ad li Vlc (B Cl) gliss ad li Pno B gliss ad li N: He was a Rait A Seedy Rait Vln (Picc) Vlc (B Cl) Pno (much hoing ) 10 n C C Quickly q = 160, as i hoing Quickly q = 160, as i hoing n n n n n F F F

5 5 Pno N: In act, he was always in such a rush, that he never slowed down to notice the eautiul lighthouse at the end o his road, casting its circle o light out to the shis at sea 1 3 g D Moderate temo (the eautiul lighthouse) 3 F cantaile g g rit - n g n - - N: He never heard the irds singing in the trees overhead D1 Moderate temo Pno 18 (as irds singing) m m m m m m n m m 3 3 N: He did not sto to watch the children laying aseall in the ark Pno 19 D2 Moderate temo 3 3 (aseall game) *LH ta iano ledge** X N: And, he never waved hello to his neighors sitting on their orch Pno 23 D3 Moderate temo (as i waving hello) # # * to simulate the sound o a aseall hitting a at, or (or the agile ianist) aroximate a aseall swing (with oth hands) while making a knocking sound with the tongue **The Narrator might catch an imaginary all!

6 6 Vln (Picc) Vlc (B Cl) Pno N: He was very seedy, and always rushed to where he was going ( rait motive) 25 E E Quickly q = 160 n Quickly q = 160 n n n n n F F F Vln (Picc) Vlc (B Cl) 29 n n n Pno n n n n Vln (Picc) Vlc (B Cl) Pno 33 n n ^ ^ ^ v

7 Vlc (B Cl) Pno N: And then, there was the Tortoise 35 F Slowly heavily n (the eautiul lighthouse) 38 3 g G Slowly 3 F cantaile Vlc (B Cl) N: [A Tortoise is a VERY LARGE turtle!] F1 Very slowly very heavily 36 n # 3 n N: He was not seedy In act, he never ran at all He lodded along at a leisurely ace, always stoing to admire the lighthouse at the end o his street, casting its circle o light out to the shis at sea g g rit - n g n N: He always slowed down to listen to the irds singing in the trees overhead G1 Slowly Pno 2 (as irds singing) m m m m m m n m m 3 3 Pno N: And, he always stoed to watch the children laying aseall in the ark G2 Slowly 3 (aseall game) 3 3 N: O course, he always waived hello to his neighors, sitting on their orch *LH ta iano ledge X Pno G3 Slowly (as i waving hello) 7 # # *to simulate the sound o a aseall hitting a at See ootnote on age 5

8 8 Vln (Picc) Vlc (B Cl) Pno N: He was a slow Tortoise, ut he always got to where he was goingeventually! 9 H H - - At a slow, lumering temo (the lumering Tortoise) - At a slow, lumering temo (the lumering Tortoise) Vln (Picc) Vlc (B Cl) Pno Vln (Picc) Vlc (B Cl) Pno ( ) Grandly, rit Grandly, rit N N - loco Less slowly Less slowly - - n - - rit rit -

9 Vln (Picc) N: One day, the Rait 61 I 9 Vlc (B Cl) N: (who was a oastul creature) said to the other animals: I am the astest animal o all I am very seedy Thereore, I challenge any o you to a race See i you can catch me! The other animals drew ack in ear They did not want to race the Seedy Rait They knew that they could not catch him But, the Tortoise 62 I1 Slowly heavily n Vln (Picc) Vlc (B Cl) Pno Vln (Picc) N: (rave Tortoise!) steed orward and said: Seedy Rait, I am not araid o you I will race you I accet your challenge At a slow, lumering temo (the lumering Tortoise) - At a slow, lumering temo (the lumering Tortoise) (much hoing ) n rit - - rit N: The Rait laughed and relied: YO! You will race me! Why, you are the slowest animal on the lock I can eat you on only one oot i I wanted! K Quickly reeat several times -

10 10 Vln (Picc) Vlc (B Cl) Pno Vln (Picc) Vlc (B Cl) Pno Vln (Picc) Vlc (B Cl) Pno N: The Tortoise relied slowly: That may e true But you should save your oasting until ater the race 68 L L Quickly q = 1, with energy rearing or the race Quickly q = 1, with energy rearing or the race ( rait motive) n n - (the lumering Tortoise) ^ ^ rit rit Hold chord (to eginning o next measure)

11 Pno N: So, the Rait and the Tortoise changed into their running clothes They ut on their running shoes, and their running cas M 80 [Violin and Cello may ut on cas] 11 Pno N: And, they lined u at the Starting Line The Owl acted as Reeree, and he said: Runners take your marks readysetgo! [Narrator clas hands loudly, to start the race] M1 81 [Narrator and Players ta eet quickly, as i running loudly at irst, then diminuendo to a quiet ackground ehind the reading] Pno N: The Rait got o to a quick start He sed down the road, leaving the Tortoise ar ehind Then, noticing his great lead, and eing a oastul Rait, he said: I am so ar ahead, that the slow Tortoise will never catch u I think that I shall sto here and take a little na That will show the Tortoise how much aster I am than him! M2 82 [Footstes sto] Vln 3 ~~~~~ (Picc) Pno N: So, the Rait ound a nice sot little sot o grass, and lay down or a na N N Moderate temo 3 3 F gently Moderate temo F gently rit rit g cont ad li as i dozing o

12 12 Pno N: Meanwhile, the Tortoise was lodding down the road at his usual ace O course, he stoed to admire the eautiul lighthouse, casting its circle o light to the shis at sea O Leisurely temo (the eautiul lighthouse) 87 g F cantaile g g rit - n g n - - Pno N: O course, he stoed to listen to the irds singing in the trees overhead O1 Leisurely temo 91 (as irds singing) m m m m m m n m m 3 3 Pno N: O course, he stoed to watch the children laying aseall in the ark [For, he was a Red Sox* an, and he knew a good game when he saw one!] O2 92 Leisurely temo 3 3 (aseall game) **LH ta iano ledge X Pno N: And, o course, he waved hello to his neighors as they sat on their orch 96 O3 Leisurely temo (as i waving hello) # # * The name o a local team may e sustituted **to simulate the sound o a aseall hitting a at See ootnote on age 5

13 Vln (Picc) Pno N: By now, he was nearly at the Finish Line At ust this time, Seedy Rait awoke rom his na P con sord startled 98 3 N: He looked around, ut did not see the Tortoise ehind him, as he had exected Nor did he see the Tortoise close y him, as he had thought he might Instead, to his horror, he thought he sotted the Tortoise o in the distance, ust aout the cross the Finish Line! The Rait raced down the road as ast as he could O course, he did not sto to admire the eautiul lighthouse, casting its circle o light out to the shis at sea Q Prestissimo (the eautiul lighthouse) 99 3 g 3 F cantaile g g no rit n g n 13 Pno N: O course, he did not sto to listen to the irds singing in the trees overhead Q1 Prestissimo (as irds singing) 103 m m m m m m n m m 3 3 Pno N: O course, he did not sto to watch the children laying aseall in the ark (even though he was a Yankees* an, and knew a good game when he saw one!) Q2 Prestissimo 10 (aseall game) 3 3 **LH ta iano ledge X * The name o a rival team may e sustituted **to simulate the sound o a aseall hitting a at See ootnote on age 5

14 1 Vlc (B Cl) Pno N: He raced, and he raced [Narrator ecomes short o reath with exhaustion] When he came to the neighors sitting on their orch, he stoed to ask: Have you seen the Tortoise Has he assed this way The neighors (who were surrised to hear rom the Rait ater all o these years) answered: Oh yes, the Tortoise came y some time ago He is ust now crossing the Finish Line Hooray Tortoise! (they shouted to each other) Hooray Tortoise! Let s have a arty to celerate! R 108 R With energy æ S ( ) gliss gliss With energy In celeration q = 160 In celeration q = 160 n n n Vln (Picc) Pno N: The Rait sank down on his aws in shock Woe is me! Woe is me! I have lost the race to the Tortoise And, what is worse, I have missed out all o the wonderul eole and laces along the way, all o these years! Woe is me! 113 S S Slowly, mournully (con sord) tremling with sorrow æ æ Slowly, mournully æ æ rit æ rit æ ww w w via sord n n n n n n n n n

15 Vln (Picc) Vlc (B Cl) Pno N: The neighors comorted the Rait y saying: Don t worry, Rait You can change your ways right now Slow down! And, we will e your riends So, the neighors threw a BIG arty, and invited everyone They celerated the Tortoise winning the race, and they welcomed the Not-so-Seedy Rait as their new riend T Slowly, grandly 117 senza sord T Slowly, grandly S S gliss gliss gliss æ æ 15 Narrator congratulates the Rait Vln (Picc) Vlc (B Cl) Quickly, very oyully q = n n n n Pno Quickly, very oyully q = 160 n n n n

16 16 Vln (Picc) Vlc (B Cl) Pno 126 n n n n n V V n Everyone dances! n n n Vln (Picc) Vlc (B Cl) 131 n n ( ) Pno n n ( ) Vln (Picc) Vlc (B Cl) W 135 Rait: hoing motive n Tortoise: heavily ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ v v w Pno W w v v v v v v v v

17 Vln (Picc) Vlc (B Cl) Pno 10 w w hoing n ( ) heavily ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ v ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ v 17 Vln (Picc) Vlc (B Cl) Pno Vln (Picc) Vlc (B Cl) Pno 1 18 ^ v v v gliss æ v v v v n Narrator toasts the animals and the ianist (with uice!) X Esecially celeratory X n Esecially celeratory n ( ) n ( ) n n N: (exclaims) THE X rit to end ^ v ^ rit to end v v v v v n n END! Y raise ists Narrator and layers raise ists in the air as i celerating winning a race 12 minutes This version comleted: March 5, 2017 Randolh, Vermont

18 18 Otional art or Narrator, to e used instead o the ull score, i desired The Race This is a story aout a race A road race etween two animals {FANFARE} Once uon a time, there was a seedy animal {A} He was a srinter {A1} He ran so quickly that the wind whistled as he went y! {B} (The Pianist exhales loudly imitating the wind whistling as the Rait rushes y) He was a Rait A Seedy Rait {C} In act, he was always in such a rush, that he never slowed down to notice the eautiul lighthouse at the end o his road, casting its circle o light out to the shis at sea {D} He never heard the irds singing in the trees overhead {D1} He did not sto to watch the children laying aseall in the ark {D2} (Pianist mimes hitting a aseall and the Narrator catches it) And, he never waved hello to his neighors sitting on their orch {D3} He was very seedy, and always rushed to where he was going {E} And then, there was the Tortoise {F} [A Tortoise is a VERY LARGE turtle!] {F1} He was not seedy In act, he never ran at all He lodded along at a leisurely ace, always stoing to admire the lighthouse at the end o his street, casting its circle o light out to the shis at sea {G} He always slowed down to listen to the irds singing in the trees overhead {G1} And, he always stoed to watch the children laying aseall in the ark {G2} (Pianist mimes hitting a aseall and the Narrator catches it) O course, he always waived hello to his neighors, sitting on their orch {G3} He was a slow Tortoise, ut he always got to where he was goingeventually! {H}

19 19 One day, the Rait {I} (who was a oastul creature) said to the other animals: I am the astest animal o all I am very seedy Thereore, I challenge any o you to a race See i you can catch me! The other animals drew ack in ear They did not want to race the Seedy Rait They knew that they could not catch him But, the Tortoise {I1} (rave Tortoise!) steed orward and said: Seedy Rait, I am not araid o you I will race you I accet your challenge {} The Rait laughed and relied: YO! You will race me! Why, you are the slowest animal on the lock I can eat you on only one oot i I wanted! {K} The Tortoise relied slowly: That may e true But you should save your oasting until ater the race {L} So, the Rait and the Tortoise changed into their running clothes They ut on their running shoes, and their running cas {M} (Narrator and Pianist may ut on cas) And, they lined u at the Starting Line The Owl acted as Reeree, and he said Runners take your marksready setgo! (Narrator clas hands loudly, to start the race) {M1} (Narrator and Pianist ta eet quickly, as i runningloudly at irst, then diminuendo to a quiet ackground ehind the ollowing reading) The Rait got o to a quick start He sed down the road, leaving the Tortoise ar ehind Then, noticing his great lead, and eing a oastul Rait, he said: I am so ar ahead, that the slow Tortoise will never catch u I think that I shall sto here and take a little na That will show the Tortoise how much aster I am than him! {M2} So, the Rait ound a nice sot little sot o grass, and lay down or a na {N} Meanwhile, the Tortoise was lodding down the road at his usual ace O course, he stoed to admire the eautiul lighthouse, casting its circle o light to the shis at sea {O} O course, he stoed to listen to the irds singing in the trees overhead {O1} O course, he stoed to watch the children laying aseall in the ark [For, he was a Red Sox* an, and he knew a good game when he saw one!] {O2} (Pianist mimes hitting a aseall and the Narrator catches it) And, o course, he waved hello to his neighors as they sat on their orch {O3}

20 20 By now, he was nearly at the Finish Line At ust this time, Seedy Rait awoke rom his na {P} He looked around, ut did not see the Tortoise ehind him, as he had exected Nor did he see the Tortoise close y him, as he had thought he might Instead, to his horror, he thought he sotted the Tortoise o in the distance, ust aout the cross the Finish Line! The Rait raced down the road as ast as he could O course, he did not sto to admire the eautiul lighthouse, casting its circle o light out to the shis at sea {Q} O course, he did not sto to listen to the irds singing in the trees overhead {Q1} O course, he did not sto to watch the children laying aseall in the ark (even though he was a Yankees* an, and knew a good game when he saw one!) {Q2} He raced, and he raced (Narrator ecomes short o reath with exhaustion) When he came to the neighors sitting on their orch, he stoed to ask: Have you seen the Tortoise Has he assed this way The neighors (who were surrised to hear rom the Rait ater all o these years) answered: Oh yes, the Tortoise came y some time ago He is ust now crossing the Finish Line Hooray Tortoise! (they shouted to each other) Hooray Tortoise! Let s have a arty to celerate! {R} The Rait sank down on his aws in shock Woe is me! Woe is me! I have lost the race to the Tortoise And, what is worse, I have missed out all o the wonderul eole and laces along the way, all o these years! Woe is me! {S} The neighors comorted the Rait y saying: Don t worry, Rait You can change your ways right now Slow down! And, we will e your riends So, the neighors threw a BIG arty, and invited everyone They celerated the Tortoise winning the race, and they welcomed the Not-so-Seedy Rait as their new riend {T} THE END!